This week’s top stories: iPad Pro rumors, the end of Adobe Flash, Apple Car, and more

In this week’s top stories: A reliable Apple analyst casts doubt on Apple Car rumors, a new iPad Pro in Q1 2021, the end of Adobe Flash, and much more. Read on for all of this week’s top Apple Stories.

Apple Car

Last week, we learned more details about Apple’s evolving plans to enter the self-driving electric car industry, as soon as 2025. More recently, however, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has cast some doubt on that timeline.

In an investor note this week, Kuo wrote that Apple Car could launch between 2025 and 2025, if development begins this year and goes according to plan. But with that being said, based on Apple’s standards, the fast-moving changes in the EV and self-driving car industry, Kuo says “would not be surprised” if Apple Car doesn’t arrive until “2028 or later.”

2021 iPad Pro

Elsewhere this week, a report indicated that Apple is still on track to launch a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with mini LED in Q1 of 2021. This isn’t the first time reports have indicated that the mini LED iPad Pro is coming in Q1 2021, but it serves as continued supply chain corroboration that the transition is still moving ahead on schedule.

History would suggest that the new iPad Pro would launch sometime towards the end of Q1, likely in March.

Corellium

Apple came out on the losing end of a notable lawsuit this week, with a judge in Florida throwing out Apple’s claims that Corellium’s virtualization tools violated copyright law. Corellium is a security research platform that allows users to run virtualized versions of iOS on desktop computers.

Read more about the Apple vs Corellium legal battle in our full coverage right here.

iPhone for Christmas

Apple once again dominated Christmas day smartphone activations in the US, new data published this week indicated. The iPhone 11 was the most popular iPhone activated on Christmas day, followed by the iPhone XR and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Also notably, the iPhone 12 mini was nowhere to be found on the list this year, adding more fuel to claims that it is a rather niche product for Apple.

These and the rest of this week’s top stories below.

iOS | tvOS |

• These iPhone and Apple Watch apps help you create and achieve New Year’s resolutions
• App that promoted secret parties during the COVID-19 pandemic is removed from App Store

iPhone |

• These are some of the best camera and photo editing apps for your new iPhone
• Best iPhone apps to enhance your experience with Apple Music
• iPhone workers given choice of forced labor or being sent to detention centers, says report
• COVID-19 vaccination proof can be added to Apple Wallet in Los Angeles
• iPhone wins Christmas, claims top 9 spots for new smartphone activations in the US

Apple Watch |

• Here are some of the best features to try on your new Apple Watch
• These are some of our must-have apps to install on a new Apple Watch
• Images show disguised Apple Watch prototype running pre-watchOS software
• How to change your Apple Watch move, exercise, and stand goals with watchOS 7

Mac and iPad |

• New Mac for Christmas? Here are some of the best apps to download
• End of an era: As promised, Adobe is officially ending support for Adobe Flash today
• With support officially ended, Adobe ‘strongly recommends’ removing Flash now, here’s how
• New 12.9-inch iPad Pro with mini LED still on track for Q1 2021, report says
• Apple patents ‘reconfigurable’ Mac keyboard with small display for each key
• Apple says fix coming for using an M1 Mac with ultrawide monitors

Top Apple stories, retail |

• Download festive wallpapers from The 12 Days of Apple Stores
• COVID-19: Which Apple Stores have reopened?

HomePod and Apple TV |

• Getting started with Apple TV: How to set up Apple TV for the best experience
• Apple TV+ Guide: Here are all the Apple TV shows and movies available now
• HomePod mini adds support for 18W power adapters with 14.3 software update
• LG rolling out AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support for its 2018 Smart TVs

Apple Car |

• Kuo: Market ‘too bullish’ on Apple Car, launch could be 2028 or later

Top Apple stories, company |

• Apple negotiating settlement with Prepear after opposing its pear-shaped logo
• Apple loses copyright lawsuit against iOS virtualization company Corellium
• Apple’s report card 2020: My take on Apple’s performance this year
• Year in review: All of the new hardware Apple released in 2020

Subscribe to 9to5Mac’s YouTube channel for more videos.

This week’s top videos |

• Is this MagSafe Alligator-Leather Wallet any good?

9to5Mac Daily |

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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July 9, 2026 – Apple’s DMA battle, Vision Pro rumors – 9to5Mac Daily

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by Backblaze: Backup you can rely on. Save 20% with code 9to5daily.

1. July 9, 2026 – Apple’s DMA battle, Vision Pro rumors 07:07
2. iOS 27 and watchOS 27 beta 3 07:22
3. New iPad Pro and MacBook Pro rumors 07:31
4. New iOS 27 framework, more 06:51
5. Apple Creator Studio updates, more 07:34

9to5Mac Watch Time |

Jeff Benjamin joins Zac Hall to give Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 5 an exit interview before new models are announced. 9to5Mac Watch Time is a podcast series hosted by Zac Hall. In this series, we talk to real people about how Apple Watch is affecting their lives.

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Week 6 – 9to5Mac Watch Time

This week on Watch Time join 9to5Mac's Zac Hall and Tempo developer Rahul Matta in the final episode of this podcast "season". 9to5Mac Watch Time is a podcast series hosted by Zac Hall. In this series, we talk to real people about how Apple Watch is affecting their lives. Subscribe now to catch up with each episode and automatically hear new episodes as soon as they’re released every two weeks: 🟣 Apple Podcasts | 🟠 Overcast | 🟢 Spotify Follow Zac Instagram @apollozac Twitter @apollozac SpaceExplored.com Follow Rahul Matta Twitter @rmatta Twitter @TempoLog Blog indie.sh Follow 9to5Mac Instagram @9to5mac Twitter @9to5mac Facebook YouTube.com/9to5Mac Listen & Subscribe Apple Podcasts Spotify Overcast RSS Read More Toning down the Apple Watch: Tips and feature requests to avoid being overwhelmed Apple releases watchOS 7.4.1 with security improvements Apple Watch blood sugar and blood pressure measurement could be a step closer watchOS 7.4 brings iPhone mask unlock feature for Apple Watch Enjoy the podcast? Shop Apple at Amazon to support 9to5Mac Watch Time!

1. Week 6 46:48
2. With guest Sigmund Judge 42:59
3. Week 5 52:45
4. Week 4 57:20
5. Week 3 56:40

9to5Mac Happy Hour Podcast |

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iOS 27 beta 3 changes, Siri AI on Apple Watch, macOS Golden Gate features – 9to5Mac Happy Hour

Benjamin and Chance talk about all the changes in iOS 27 beta 3, and Mayo’s first experience with Siri AI on Apple Watch. Also, we dive in to the details of what’s new in macOS Golden Gate, Apple tries to lobby to use Chinese memory components, signs a new deal with Broadcom, and likely supply constraints for the iPhone Fold. And in Happy Hour Plus, with Apple TV scoring a record number of Emmy nominations, we talk about what we’ve been watching recently across TV and film. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. Sponsored by Copilot Money: Get two months free with code 9TO5MAC at copilot.money/9to5mac. Sponsored by Shopify: All you need is the idea. Shopify handles the rest. Start your free trial at shopify.com/happyhour. Sponsored by Framer: The only free design tool that brings your ideas to the web. Visit framer.com/happyhour for 30% off a Framer Pro annual plan.

1. iOS 27 beta 3 changes, Siri AI on Apple Watch, macOS Golden Gate features 58:18
2. M7 chip coming sooner than expected, visionOS 27 features, Ask9to5Mac 54:58
3. iOS 27 beta 2, Apple price increases, Apple Watch OS support 52:06
4. Apple warns price increases are coming, new Siri continues to impress, more iOS 27 features 01:00:27
5. WWDC 2026 recap, iOS 27, new Siri and more officially announced 01:52:29

Stacktrace Podcast |

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Stacktrace has moved! – Stacktrace

As we've mentioned in the last episode, the Stacktrace podcast is no longer a part of the 9to5Mac network. If you're seeing this entry in your podcast player, then you probably need to unfollow Stacktrace and follow the podcast again. Start by unfollowing the show in your podcast player, then just search for "Stacktrace" and follow the show again. You'll notice that the updated show has a new artwork and that episode 179 has already been released there. To learn more about how to listen to Stacktrace, check out our new website. Thanks for listening!

1. Stacktrace has moved! 01:00
2. 178: “Let’s try something new” 01:03:25
3. 177: “The stand is included!” 01:09:24
4. 176: “Extra Keynote Poker” 01:19:00
5. 175: “A Bluetooth fanboy” 54:35

Apple @ Work Podcast |

Apple @ Work by 9to5Mac is available on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, and via RSS for other podcast players.

The 3 pillars of AI for the Apple enterprise – Apple @ Work

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1. The 3 pillars of AI for the Apple enterprise 22:32
2. Apple @ Work Podcast: macOS ClickFix is back for more 19:36
3. WWDC 26 Recap 29:18
4. Leebry aims to unify your SaaS tools for AI use 18:18
5. A new era for Jamf 19:47

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